Improvement in seal-locks



W. DUNN. Seal-Look.

No. 203,012. Patente'd April 30,1878.

N. PETERSv FHDTO-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHXNGTON 0 C UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

WILLIAM DUNN, OF HAMILTON, ONTARIO, CANADA, ASSIGNOR TO JOHN HARVEY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN SEAL-LOCKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 203,0 [2, dated April 30, 1878 application filed March 9, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM DUNN, of the city of Hamilton, county of Wentworth, Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented new and useful Improvements in Seal-Locks, of

which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to that class of looks with which cards or seals are used, for the purpose of showing whether the lock has been opened or not; and it consists, first, in the combination, with a lock provided with the usual hasp, of a sliding bar, working longitudinally through the center of the lock, and being provided with a parallel groove or recess, into which the point of the hasp fits, and is thereby fastened, when the hasp and bar are respectively closed.

My invention consists, secondly, in combination, with the before-mentioned bar, of hooked springs, firmly attached to the said bar, and for the purpose of pulling out the card or seal when the bar is drawn out to release the hasp.

My invention also consists in the combination, with the lock and bar, of the method of inserting the card or seal, in the following manner: When the bar is drawn out, the opening with which it is provided comes directly opposite the aperture constructed for the purpose in the side of the lock, thus allowing the card or seal to be placed against the inside of the glass fixed in the opposite side of the lock. The bar, in closing, passes over the back of the card or seal, and closes up the aperture in the side of the lock, and prevents the card or seal from being tampered with or taken out, excepting over the index, hereinafter to be mentioned.

My invention further consists, in combination with the lock and bar, of a toothed roller, so placed in the interior of the lock that the card or seal, in being drawn out, passes over the teeth of the roller, and thus becomes visibly marked, indicating that the lock had been opened.

My invention, lastly, consists in the manner of locking the bar by means of a series of catches, constructed with inclined faces, so as to offer no obstruction in closing the bar, but requiring the aid of a key of peculiar shape before it can be opened.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a lock constructed according to my invention, showing the lock closed and that side in which the glass is fixed. Fig. 2 is an elevation of the opposite side of the lock; also representing the lock as being open. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal transverse section of the lock. Fig. 4. is a vertical sectional view of the lock, showing the interior of the front edge; also a portion of the hasp, the point of which, fitted into the recess of the bar, can also be seen. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the one side of the bar, with the cap taken away. Fig. 6 is a side view of the key.

A is the case, having a fixed glass, 0, on the one side, and the aperture 0 on the other, and is provided with a passage, within which is contained the bar B. B is the bar, attached to the cap B This bar, when closed, fastens the hasp D by means of the recess b, into which the point of the hasp fits, when closed. The bar B, also, on being drawn out, with the assistance of the springs I I, pulls out the card or seal a and over the toothed roller E.

The bar B, further, when shut, closes up the aperture 0 formed in the side of the look, as shown in Fig. 2; and, lastly, the bar B, by extending through the case A, as shown in Fig. 1, affords an opportunity, by means of the hole 6, of attaching a bond-seal or other device, when necessary.

It is evident that when the lock is used for mail-bags, and for many other purposes, the last-named provision would not be required. In that case, the projection of the barB through the rear of the lock, as shown in Fig. 1, could be dispensed with, and the edge of the lock closed up, the bar merely reaching to the inner side of it; but for freight-cars, and any purpose requiring an extra seal, I believe, all things being considered, the arrangement shown in full to be the best.

J are catches, which fasten the bar B to the case A. These catches are pivoted to the bar B, inside of the cap B and are constructed with inclined points, which cause them to depress when brought in contact with the inner edge (also inclined) of the lock by the bar being closed. When the projections of the catches pass the lip J 2 they are forced by the springs m into the recess J formed on the inner side of the lock for the purpose. These catches are also provided with transverse channels of unequal depths, to prevent their being effectively operated without the legitimate appliance. To open the lock, the key 0 is inserted in the key-hole L and pressed inwardly, thereby depressing the catches J, thus permitting the bar B to be drawn out. B is a projection on the under edge of the bar B, and which works in alongitudinal groove formed in the bottom of the inside of the lock, and for the purpose of preventing the bar being drawn too far out. b is a vertical recess formed at the end of the receding recess b, and for the purpose of att'ording a passage for the point of the hasp when being closed. 0 is an opening in the side of the lock, for the purpose of admitting the card or seal. C is the glass, fixed in the other side of the lock, and through which can be seen the card or seal. 0 is an open space in the bar B, and which, when the baris drawn out, corresponds to 0, thus forming a passage to allow the card or seal n to be placed against the inside of the glass C. E is the toothed roller, over which the card or seal has to traverse when being pulled out, and is for the purpose of marking the said card or seal, and is so arranged that the points reach nearly to the bar, and which force themselves into the card or sea] in its transit, leaving a visible indentation, that shows plainly through the glass 0, should the card or seal be replaced, that the lock had been opened. I I are the springs fastened to the bar B, and are for the purpose of drawing out the card or seal, and are provided with inclined hooks, which rise and pass over the back of the card or seal, and dropping over its rear edge when the bar is closed. On drawing out the bar to open the lock, the springs pull out the card or seal, and over the toothed roller before mentioned. m are the springs for pressing the catches J into the recess J. O is the key, provided with an uneven edge, so constructed for the purpose of acting on each of the catches J. n is the card or seal, supposed to be stamped or marked insuch a manner as not to be easily counterfeited, so that, should another card or seal be substituted for the one defaced, the change could be detected.

I make no claim to the hasp, for I am aware that is not new.

What I claim is 1. The bar B, provided with the groove or recess b, in combination with the case A and the hasp D, arranged and operating substantially as described, and for the purpose specitied.

2. The hooked springs I I, attached to the bar B, for the purpose of drawing out the card or seal, substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the opening (1 in the side of the case, the glass 0 fixed in the opposite side, and the aperture 0 made through the bar, with the case A and the bar B, for the purpose substantially as set forth and de scribed.

4. The combination, with the case A and the bar B, provided with hooked springs I I, of the fixed toothed roller E, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

5. The catches J, in combination with the bar B and the case A, constructed and working substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

WILLIAM DUNN.

Witnesses:

ROBERT NIXON, WILLIAM G. WHITE. 

